Pfizer (PFE): analysis in plain words
Is Pfizer cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Pfizer (PFE) is listed on the NYSE and we classify it in healthcare and pharma. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Pfizer according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Pfizer (PFE) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.79 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 44.0x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | -0.4% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 6.3% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | N/A | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 5.73% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $175.5 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Pfizer figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any PFE figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Pfizer makes money
Pfizer sells medicines and vaccines grouped into Primary Care, which includes the blood thinner Eliquis shared with Bristol Myers, Prevnar and Comirnaty vaccines and the antiviral Paxlovid; Specialty Care, led by Vyndaqel; and Oncology, with Ibrance, Xtandi and Seagen drugs like Padcev. The U.S. is its biggest market.
Over the last 12 months, Pfizer brought in revenue of $63.6 billion. For every 100 it sells, Pfizer keeps 74.8 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 30.9 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 75,000 full-time employees, that is about $848,000 of revenue per employee.
Pfizer against its sector
To know whether a Pfizer figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Pfizer with the median of the 30 healthcare and pharma companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Pfizer | healthcare and pharma median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 44.0x | 31.3x (30) |
| Revenue growth | -0.4% | +8.3% (33) |
| Net margin | 6.3% | 14.9% (33) |
| Dividend yield | 5.73% | 1.52% (33) |
In short, against the typical healthcare and pharma company, Pfizer trades on a higher P/E, grows more slowly and earns a thinner margin. By size, Pfizer ranks number 11 of 28 healthcare and pharma companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Pfizer
These are the strengths in the Pfizer figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Analysts expect Pfizer earnings to rise: its P/E on the next 12 months of estimated earnings is 10.6x, below the current 44.0x.
The main risk for Pfizer
Pfizer pays out more in dividends than it earns (a 246% payout ratio): its 5.73% yield only holds up if profit recovers.
On top of that: the price already assumes a lot: Pfizer trades at 44.0x its last 12 months of earnings, against 31.3x for the healthcare and pharma median. If growth disappoints, the multiple can shrink and the share price with it.
And, like the rest of healthcare and pharma, Pfizer is exposed to a key drug losing patent protection or a clinical trial failing, plus government pressure on prices.
Frequently asked questions about Pfizer
Is it a good time to buy Pfizer stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Pfizer, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Pfizer stock trades at $30.79, 1% below its 52-week high ($31.06) and 30% above its low ($23.62). Its P/E is 44.0x against a healthcare and pharma median of 31.3x, and 10.6x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With Pfizer, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Pfizer pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, Pfizer pays $1.72 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 5.73%. It uses 246% of its profit to pay it, more than it earns, which cannot last forever. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 4.80%. The healthcare and pharma median on Fintols is 1.52%.
Is Pfizer stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, Pfizer trades at 44.0x its last 12 months of earnings: more expensive than the healthcare and pharma median (31.3x). A high P/E alone does not make Pfizer expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Pfizer's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Pfizer with Thermo Fisher, UnitedHealth and HCA Healthcare, which are also in healthcare and pharma. As of November 4, 2026, Thermo Fisher is worth $261.6 billion and trades on a P/E of 37.2; UnitedHealth is worth $367.5 billion and trades on a P/E of 23.4; HCA Healthcare is worth $106.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 16.9. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Pfizer below.
Pfizer competitors
- Thermo Fisher (TMO) analysis · Pfizer vs Thermo Fisher comparison
- UnitedHealth (UNH) analysis · Pfizer vs UnitedHealth comparison
- HCA Healthcare (HCA) analysis · Pfizer vs HCA Healthcare comparison
To understand Pfizer better
- DCF and WACC Explained: A Practical Valuation Guide
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
More companies like Pfizer: healthcare and pharma stocks, S&P 500 companies and S&P 100 companies. Open the full PFE analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Pfizer, not investment advice.